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In the semi-final triumph of the Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian team have managed to outperform Australia and enter the final of the tournament. India‘s batting wizard Virat Kohli was the star of the show with an emphatic 84 off 98 balls to steer the way for the Rohit Sharma-led team. While Kohli has played an instrumental role in guiding his team to a historic final, he has also surpassed the legends of the game by scoring the most 50s in all ICC knockout eve♏nts combined.
An emphatic run-chase in the semi-final
India executed a calm and calculated chase, making it look effortless. Despite losing two wickets early, there was never a sense of urgency in their pursuit of the target. Kohli, as he often does in high-pressure chases, anchored the innings brilliantly. He forged a 91-run partnership with Shreyas Iyer and then formed key stands with Axar Patel and KL Rahul. Kohli’s crucial 84 runs laid the foundation, while Rahul and Hardik Pandya ensured that there was no panic, steering India home with four wickets in hand and 11 balls to spare. With this composed victory, India secured their place🍎 in the final in Dubai, where they will face the winner of the second semi-final between South Africa and New Zealand.
Top 5 players with most half-centuries in ICC knockout events
Inꦬ ICC knockout events, where the pressure is immense and the stakes are high, certain players consistently rise to the occasion and deliver crucial performances. One of the key metrics of a player’s ability to perform under pressure is the number of times they🍌 score 50+ runs in these knockout matches. Let’s look at the players who have excelled in this department, with a focus on their 50+ scores.
1. Virat Kohli (9)
Kohli leads the list with 9 scores of 50+ runs in ICC knockout events. With a total of 93♕9 runs from 20 matches, Kohli’s ability to perform in high-pressure situations is unmatched. The chase-master as he is often called, Kohli’s batting average of 52.16 and strike rate of 92.23 are proof of his dominance and consistency in knockout cricket.
2. Sachin Tendulkar (6)
The legendary Sachin Tendulkar has touched the glorious mark of 50+ runs in ICC knockout matches 6 times. With 657 runs in 15 matches, hisꦫ average of 50.53 and strike rate of 80.81 reflect his crucial role in India’s success over the years, particularly in their 2003 World Cup campaign. Not only has Tendulkar reigned over the stats for a long period of time, he was the guiding force of his time during ICC events throughout the course of 💮his career.
Also Read: Twitter reacti൲ons: Virat Kohli shines as India edge out Australia in a nervy chase to qualify for the Champions Trophy 2025 final
3. Jacques Kallis (5)
One of the greatest all-rounders international cricket has ever seen, Jacques Kallis scored 5 half-centuries in ICC knockout events. In 11 matches, Kalli⛦s accumulated 539 runs, with an outstanding average of 59.88. His ability to anchor the innings in critical situations made him a key figure for South Africa🅰 in knockout matches.
4. Kumar Sangakkara (5)
Former Sri Lankan wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara touched the half-century mark five times during the course of his career. With 595 r🔯uns from 19 matches, his batting average of 39.66 and strike rate of 71.42 illustrate his consistency. He was often a steadying force for Sri Lanka in difficult situations.
5. Steve Smith (5)
With 5 scores of 50+ in ICC knockout matches like Sangakkara, Smith also stakes a claim in this list. Australia’s star batter has been a reliable contributor for his team throughout the years. In 11 ma꧂tches, Smith scored 511 runs with an average of 56.77 and a strike rate of 68.13, proving his 🃏ability to perform in critical moments for his team.
